Nation’s Best Track Talent Head to Semi-Finals of 45th Anniversary Colgate Women’s Games

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- From an initial field of thousands, some 445 girls and young women from elementary-school-through-college and beyond, have persevered through four preliminary meets at Pratt Institute and scored points to earn a spot in the semi-finals of the nation's largest track series for women, the 45th anniversary Colgate Women's Games Track and Field Series (Jan. 5-7, 2019).

From all over the East Coast, as far as Georgia to Massachusetts, these gifted young competitors include some of the nation's top-ranked athletes in their events and divisions performing at the peak of their talent, including an Elementary B high jump record by a fifth grader from Delaware, and dozens of newly-crowned Junior Olympians setting personal records throughout the series. All point-scorers are eligible to compete in the semi-finals on January 19, 2019 at Pratt.

In the High School division on Friday, Brooklyn's Brianna White placed first in the 55 meters in 7.39 just ahead of Rori Lowe of the Bronx, who placed second in 7.41. White has been running her personal best this indoor season at Pratt and Rowe leads White by only three points heading into the semi-finals. White also won the 200 meters in 25.61 ahead of Junior Olympic Champion Brianna Brown of the Bronx, who placed second in 25.72, creating a 48-point tie.

In a fiercely competitive 55 meter-hurdles race, Phoebe Myers of Queens finished first in 8.45, just ahead of Anjoli Mathew of Brookline, MA in 8.48. Junior Olympic Champion and last year's Mid School hurdles champion Peyton Rollins of Cambridge, MA finished third in 8.51. Rollins and Mathew continue to make the drive from the Boston area. Kaitlyn Cepeda of Manhattan and Adia Palmer of Brooklyn both remained undefeated; Cepeda won the 400 meters in 59.99, and Palmer won the 800 meters in 2:19.58. Isabel Stronski of Rye, NY won the 1500 meters in 4:58.36.

Mid School High Jump Record holder My'Khiyah Williams cleared 5'4" for the win, and Manhattan's Mariam Chase won the shot put with a toss of 11.11 meters.

While the Colgate Women's Games have produced hundreds of national champions and boast 26 Olympians as alumnae, Meet Director Cheryl Toussaint says the Colgate Women's Games were founded to reach and impact the many thousands who are new to the sport or organized competition in general, giving everyone an opportunity to shine and share the spotlight.

"Our goal is to provide a fun, friendly, yet competitive environment where young participants can discover their talent and harness their skills in track and field, while at the same time fostering the importance of pursuit of education. The experience of competing in a series affords participants the opportunity to grow from week to week, building self-esteem and a sense of personal achievement that will surely have a positive impact on their lives," Toussaint said. "We encourage all participants, especially those of you who did not reach this year's semi-finals, to continue to persevere both on and off the field, and we hope you will join us again next year."

Saturday in the Mid School division, national sprint sensation and four-time Colgate Women's Games' record-holder Avery Lewis of West Chester, PA made it a perfect undefeated season. Lewis won the 55 meters in 7.35, and the 200M in 25.05. The Junior Olympic champion also has amassed an incredible five dozen (60) first-place wins in a wide variety of events at major East Coast and regional track and field events. Ashey Fulton of Elmont, NY deserves mention for consecutively placing second; this week in 7.65. Fulton is also a Junior Olympic Champion, who achieved her personal record time 7.44 the first meet of the series.

Eyota Bey of Wyncote, PA won the 400 in 59.9, with Tori Daniels of Valley Stream, NY a close second in 1:00.57. With Bey in first place, only one point separates the pair, 47 to 46 headed to the semi-finals. Juliette Salazar scored double win in the distance races; placing first in the 800 meters in 2:23.26, and the 1500 meters in 4:54.55. Rowan Houston cleared 5'4" in the High Jump, finishing undefeated; and Jada McCown of New Haven, CT won the shot put with her best toss of the season, 9.08 meters.

Sunday in the Elementary B division, three young superstars finished with double wins. Philadelphia's Amirah Nesmith, last year's 55 meters champion, won both the 55 meters in 8:01 and the 200 meters in 8.26, for an undefeated season. Kiara Davis of Bear, DE who set a high jump record (4'9.25") last week, won the 55 meter-hurdles in 10.29, and cleared the bar at 4'7" for the win, also enjoying an undefeated season; and Da'Mira Allen of Boothwyn, PA won the 400 meters in 1:02.07, and the 800 meters in 2:25.52.

In the Elementary A division, Lauren Broadus of Philadelphia had a phenomenal day with a double win, placing first in the 200 meters in 32.25 and the 400 meters in 1:11.35, both her best performances of the series. Khloe Khan of Brooklyn finished undefeated in the 55 meters with a 9.09, and Aisha Wajid of the Bronx, one of the youngest Junior Olympic champions, won the 800 meters in 2:44.17. Additional outstanding performances and results for all divisions are available at http://colgategames.com/results.

The Colgate Women's Games isn't just the nation's largest series of its kind, but also the longest-running corporate-sponsored event for women's athletics. Many athletes have participated for decades, and some have even participated every season from Elementary A all the way through 30's plus divisions!

Semi-finalists will compete on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at Pratt Institute to determine finalists who will compete at the New Balance Track and Field Center at the Armory, NYC Saturday, February 2, 2019, where trophies and educational grants-in-aid from Colgate-Palmolive Company are awarded to top place finishers in each grade division.

Coaches, recruiters, athletes and fans can follow scores each week at http://www.colgategames.com/. Tickets to the Armory finals are free by request.